TheapprehensionsoftheGaulswerederivedfromtheknowledgeoftheimpendingandinevitabledanger。Assoonastheprovinceswereexhaustedoftheirmilitarystrength，theGermanswouldviolateatreatywhichhadbeenimposedontheirfears；andnotwithstandingtheabilitiesandvalorofJulian，thegeneralofanominalarmy，towhomthepubliccalamitieswouldbeimputed，mustfindhimself，afteravainresistance，eitheraprisonerinthecampofthebarbarians，oracriminalinthepalaceofConstantius。IfJuliancompliedwiththeorderswhichhehadreceived，hesubscribedhisowndestruction，andthatofapeoplewhodeservedhisaffection。Butapositiverefusalwasanactofrebellion，andadeclarationofwar。Theinexorablejealousyoftheemperor，theperemptory，andperhapsinsidious，natureofhiscommands，leftnotanyroomforafairapology，orcandidinterpretation；andthedependentstationoftheCaesarscarcelyallowedhimtopauseortodeliberate。SolitudeincreasedtheperplexityofJulian；hecouldnolongerapplytothefaithfulcounselsofSallust，whohadbeenremovedfromhisofficebythejudiciousmaliceoftheeunuchs:hecouldnotevenenforcehisrepresentationsbytheconcurrenceoftheministers，whowouldhavebeenafraidorashamedtoapprovetheruinofGaul。Themomenthadbeenchosen，whenLupicinus，^5thegeneralofthecavalry，wasdespatchedintoBritain，torepulsetheinroadsoftheScotsandPicts；andFlorentiuswasoccupiedatViennabytheassessmentofthetribute。Thelatter，acraftyandcorruptstatesman，decliningtoassumearesponsiblepartonthisdangerousoccasion，eludedthepressingandrepeatedinvitationsofJulian，whorepresentedtohim，thatineveryimportantmeasure，thepresenceofthepraefectwasindispensableinthecounciloftheprince。InthemeanwhiletheCaesarwasoppressedbytherudeandimportunatesolicitationsoftheImperialmessengers，whopresumedtosuggest，thatifheexpectedthereturnofhisministers，hewouldchargehimselfwiththeguiltofthedelay，andreserveforthemthemeritoftheexecution。Unabletoresist，unwillingtocomply，Julianexpressed，inthemostseriousterms，hiswish，andevenhisintention，ofresigningthepurple，whichhecouldnotpreservewithhonor，butwhichhecouldnotabdicatewithsafety。
[Footnote4:Theminuteinterval，whichmaybeinterposed，betweenthehyemeadultaandtheprimovereofAmmianus，xx。l。
4，insteadofallowingasufficientspaceforamarchofthreethousandmiles，wouldrendertheordersofConstantiusasextravagantastheywereunjust。ThetroopsofGaulcouldnothavereachedSyriatilltheendofautumn。ThememoryofAmmianusmusthavebeeninaccurate，andhislanguageincorrect。
Note:ThelateeditorofAmmianusattemptstovindicatehisauthorfromthechargeofinaccuracy。\"Itisclear，fromthewholecourseofthenarrative，thatConstantiusentertainedthisdesignofdemandinghistroopsfromJulian，immediatelyafterthetakingofAmida，intheautumnoftheprecedingyear，andhadtransmittedhisordersintoGaul，beforeitwasknownthatLupicinushadgoneintoBritainwiththeHeruliansandBatavians。\"Wagner，notetoAmm。xx。4。Butitseemsalsoclearthatthetroopswereinwinterquartershiemabantwhentheordersarrived。Ammianuscanscarcelybeacquittedofincorrectnessinhislanguageatleast。—M]
[Footnote5:Ammianus，xx。l。ThevalorofLupicinus，andhismilitaryskill，areacknowledgedbythehistorian，who，inhisaffectedlanguage，accusesthegeneralofexaltingthehornsofhispride，bellowinginatragictone，andexcitingadoubtwhetherhewasmorecrueloravaricious。ThedangerfromtheScotsandPictswassoseriousthatJulianhimselfhadsomethoughtsofpassingoverintotheisland。]
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